Stress rupture of lead-free soldered joints used to assemble copper plumbing systems

A cooperative program on stress rupture behavior of lead-free soldered join ts was initiated several years ago between the National institute of Standa rds and Technology (NIST) and the Copper Development Association (CDA). It was created because the conservative code-assigned joint strength propertie s of soldered wrought and cast copper and copper alloy fittings prohibited the broader use of copper plumbing tube in building construction. Further, there was a challenge to the use of the only remaining code-approved solder because of a health concern.